Over the last 50 years, the marriage rate in the U.S. has dropped by nearly 60%. This is because of the growing change in the perception of marriage across the country. As Andrew Cherlin, a sociologist at Johns Hopkins explained, “You got married, then you moved in together, and then you got a job…Marriage is now becoming the last step into adulthood.”

This trend could spell the end for “50th Wedding Anniversary” parties and beyond.